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Fallopian Tube Health

The fallopian tube plays a major role during ovulation for the journey of the egg, as well as carrying the fertilized egg and sperm back up to the uterus.
Blocked or damage to a fallopian tube is a common cause of infertility.

Infertility in females is very often attributed to an
unhealthy tube or tubes in the reproductive system.
Your physician will ensure infertility tests are carried out early in the
investigation to assess the health of these delicate essential tubes.

The causes of damage to the fallopian
tube can be due to any STDs,
infections left untreated, endometriosis
and surgery scarring from treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome,
or from fibroids in the
uterus, which can compress and damage the fallopian tube. Cysts, which may be
benign, also effect the tubes.

The tubes in a females reproductive
system are extremely delicate structures.
Less than 4mm (1/8 inch) in diameter at their narrowest, they are easily
damaged.

As many as one-third of women who seek infertility assistance are
found to have a problem with their tube
or tubes.

Once the primary tests, i.e.
ovulation test, are completed, then the
females tubes are
checked. These tests are still among the first investigations made when an
infertile couple attend a specialist clinic.

1. Hysterosalpingogram:

Also known as HSG, this is an X-ray picture of the
uterus and tubes, which can show up problems inside them.

A special dye, that can be monitored on an X-ray screen, is slowly
injected into the uterus and should pass into
the fallopian tube.

If it fails to do so, this may indicate some
damage, distortion, or blockage in the tubes.

2. Laparoscopy:

The laparoscope, is a slender telescope - only about the width of a
fountain pen - that uses fibreoptics to look directly into the abdominal
cavity.

This is one of the most useful tests for
finding out whether a woman's tubes are blocked or damaged

In summary, the above tests will be performed by a physician specialist.
Sometimes these tests are necessary, not only to prove where a problem exists,
but to also rule out any problems.

Up to a third of cases of infertility
in females, fall into the unexplained
infertility category. These kind of situations are
explored to rule out problems, so that decisions about treatments and
alternative methods of conception, can be assessed.

The health of the fallopian tube is
essential. Therefore your physician will definitely recommend tests and
investigations to assess the health status. Treatments and or surgery can then
be performed if any problems are found to correct any abnormalities.

Once ovulation and fertilization has
taken place, the long journey up the fallopian tube to the uterus is the only
way conception will take place.